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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Brake and Beith quiz Cameron at PMQs
March 12, 2011 11:36 AM
• [Mar 9] Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat): The coalition Government's principal objective is to cut the eye-watering deficit that we inherited from the previous Government, yet we want to support people on low and middle incomes. [ Interruption. ] Can the Prime Minister confirm how many people will see their incomes- [ Interruption. ]
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John Bercow (Speaker): Order. I apologise for having to interrupt. Members must be heard when asking their questions, and the Prime Minister heard in answering them. It is a very simple principle. I think that the hon. Gentleman has completed his question, and we are grateful to him.
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David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): The truth is that Labour Members do not like being reminded of the massive deficit and the huge mess that they left this Government to clear up. My hon. Friend makes a good point-that in spite of difficult decisions, we will lift the tax threshold for income tax payers in April this year, and 880,000 people will be removed from income tax altogether. That is a major step forward, a big help with the cost of living, and will be welcome to families up and down the country.
• . . Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed, Liberal Democrat): Do the Prime Minister and the Chancellor recognise the severe impact of exceptionally high petrol and diesel prices on rural communities in England such as Northumberland, where prices tend to be 5p to 10p a litre higher than in the cities, where people have long distances to travel to work and where public transport is very limited? May we hope for some relief in the Budget?
David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): My right hon. Friend makes an important point. The argument has been made about high fuel costs, and we are listening to it very carefully. He will have to wait for the Budget. I know that prices for heating oil are also a big issue in rural areas like the ones that he and, indeed, I represent. We have asked the Office of Fair Trading to look at it, but I make the additional point that we have maintained the cold weather payments at £25, which has meant that something like £430 million has been spent this winter on helping people with their heating bills.
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